The Ministry of Deaconesses in Byzantium and Projects for Its Reconstruction at the Pre-Council Conference in Russia 1906

Introduction. The order of deaconesses in Byzantium was formed by the time of the Council of Chalcedon in 451. The idea of the institutionalization of the women’s ministry was revived in the new conditions in Russia of the 19th – early 20th century because of the need for Church reforms. Materials and methods. A comparative analysis of the ancient order of deaconesses and the project of its reconstruction in Russia allows us to determine characteristics of the ministry and status of deaconesses that depended on the specific living conditions of the Church. The deaconesses in the Byzantine Empire were ministers of the Church: the bishop ordained widows or virgins between the ages of 40 and 60. Deaconesses kept chastity, had property rights, were assigned to a parish, helped priests at the baptism of women, and were subordinate to clergymen. By the 12th century, the female order in Byzantium disappeared, however the honorary title of deaconess could later be worn by the prioress of female monasteries. The Russian Church has never had deaconesses, but in the 19th – early 20th century projects were discussed for the reconstruction of this women’s ministry which was actively developing in the protestant tradition. The Pre-Council Conference in 1906 developed a draft of Church reforms, including the rules for orthodox deaconesses, who could be elected from active parishioners, not nuns. It was assumed that these women were supposed to keep order in the Church, help the priest in the parish, at the baptism and catechumenate of women, help the sick and the needy, in the so called “inner mission”. However, the undeveloped status of deaconesses as new ministers of the Church did not allow this project to be implemented. Results. The order of the deaconesses that disappeared in Byzantium and the attempt to restore it in Russia show that a stable institutionalization of women’s ministry took place only at a certain period in the history of the Church which needed it.

To Build a New Church together? Exploring Interdisciplinary Dialogue with a Christian Women’s Ministry: Addressing Patriarchy in URCSA

There are many routes to address patriarchy in faith communities. This article asks the question whether one particular Christian Women’s Ministry, that of the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA), can empower black women to address gender justice. It utilises a historical-narrative approach to interpret the goals, functioning and impact of this ministry in terms of its own primary documents. The findings point to the potential of such a dialogue, yet also highlight the complexities with regard to impact analysis within a denominational context. Some strides have been made, but this article shows there is still a need to work together to build a church where—besides putting policies and programmes in place—the church should prophetically address injustice and seek witness to the partnership between women and men.

Structural Violence against Women in the Pentecostal Movement: Proposals for a South African Deconstruction Strategy

The phenomenon of discrimination against women within Pentecostal churches in terms of ministry and leadership is investigated to propose a strategy for deconstructing such structural violence. The violence is described in terms of a case study, the history of a prominent South African Pentecostal denomination (Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa) that initially recognised the involvement of women in all forms of ministry; subsequently in the 1940s refusing their ministry as preachers and pastors, and eventually at the end of the 1970s offering them the same ministerial privileges as for males. Their recognition is, however, characterised by a practical non-application of a church order that in effect represents the commitment of violence against women. It is argued that the change in perspectives of women’s ministry and leadership is hermeneutical in nature. To deconstruct it would need revisiting Pentecostalism’s original hermeneutic as well as restoring its restorationist urge of egalitarianism and inclusiveness.

Narrative Identity Formation in Midlife Korean Christian Women

This qualitative study explores the narrative identities and redemptive self of midlife Korean Christian women through their life stories. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with 23 midlife Korean Christian women in Southern California, which provided thick and rich descriptions of their life experiences. The findings revealed five major themes in each of two categories—narrative identity and redemptive self. Understanding how these Korean Christian women reconciled two master narratives, culture and spirituality, in their narrative identity formation, can provide insight in the consideration of women’s ministry.

BIBLICAL IMAGES AND CHRISTIAN CHURCH WOMEN'S MINISTRATION

The article analyzes the medieval interpretations of biblical images of Sophia of the Wisdom of God, Eve, Virgin Mary. Their role of women's inclusion in the social order of the Western European Medieval Society in the religious-cultural model is considered. The activity of women in religion, politics and science has been steadily increasing, but the society, at least in modern times, continues to broadcast ideas about the woman which are most clear and in detailed in the religious and cultural heritage of Christianity. They all relate to those ideas that contend with the idea of a woman's low capacity for intellectual activity, unprofessionalism, immaturity, and passivity, which are conditioned by "feminine nature". If, in the context of medieval religious culture, such perception was related to relevant socially predetermined functions that were actively promoted by the Christian church and supported by the specific religious space of that era, then women's ministry in the Christian church, based on women's biblical images, exemplifies the strengthening and propagation of the Christian faith.

A Study of the Chung Hua Sheng Kung Hui Women’s Missionary Service League in the 1930s and 1940s

This chapter examines the beginning and expansion of Anglican women’s ministry under the Chung Hua Sheng Kung Hui against the backdrop of rapid social and political change in China. It discusses the work of the Women’s Missionary Service League (WMSL) and the Mother’s Union from the 1920s to 1940s in different provinces, and their contribution to building the Chinese Anglican church. It explores in great detail the activities the WMSL and Mother’s Union organised, which covered the areas of spiritual formation, social service, evangelism, literacy education, religious education and war relief work. The significant role of Christian mothers in their children’s religious education was particularly highlighted in the promotion of Christian family as foundation of the church.